Southern California -- this just in

Two teens killed by father in apparent murder-suicide, officials say

February 4, 2013 | 1:55
pm

A small Calaveras County community has been rocked after an apparent murder-suicide in which a man killed his two teenage children and then himself.

Calaveras County sheriff's deputies showed up at a Murphys home near Sandalwood Drive and Canyon Ridge Court on Saturday afternoon to do a welfare check after friends reported not seeing the teens since Thursday.

When deputies arrived, they found Phillip Marshall, the teens' father, lying in a pool of blood on the floor, authorities said.

They soon found the two teens -- 17-year-old Alex and 14-year-old Macaila –- and the family dog dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

Investigators said the victims had each been shot once in the head, although the official cause of death will not be determined until later.

Authorities said Marshall's estranged wife and the mother of the teens is out of the country.

The teens were students at Bret Harte High School in Angels Camp, authorities said.

Sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. Chris Hewitt told the Union-Democrat that the family members were "upstanding members of the community."

A memorial service is planned at the high school Saturday. Grief counselors were at the school Monday.